Gavashni - ISSUE 1, VOL 01, OCTOBER, 2013

Gavashni Newsletter for the Zoroastrian community in the Gulf region ISSUE

01VOL 01

OCTOBER, 2013

04 Success Story

05 Enterprise Dubai

08 Women Focus

10 Regional News

13 WZCC

14 Entrepreneurship

16 Youth Focus

Climbing the stairs to success and giving ‘entrepreneurship’ a new meaning

They came, they saw and they were not deterred.

Two women who raised the bar and made it happen

19th – 21st December 2014 A must visit venture, so ensure you make the time for it.

People of our ilk who have come to the gulf and left indelible footprints in the sands

In the corridors of corporate power we meet those of our community who hold the reins

06 Tête-à-tête with the ambitious

Leading Zoroastrians share their aspirations for their motherland India

A special report on WZCC by the International Director, Roomi Sarkari

Our YLEP Team: doing the right things at the right time for the right reasons

Gavashni Newsletter for the Zoroastrian community in the Gulf region ISSUE

01VOL 01

OCTOBER, 2013

WELCOME NOTE 04 Success Story

05 Enterprise Dubai

08 Women Focus

10 Regional News

13 WZCC

14 Entrepreneurship

16 Youth Focus

Climbing the stairs to success and giving ‘entrepreneurship’ a new meaning

They came, they saw and they were not deterred.

Two women who raised the bar and made it happen

19th – 21st December 2014 A must visit venture, so ensure you make the time for it.

People of our ilk who have come to the gulf and left indelible footprints in the sands

In the corridors of corporate power we meet those of our community who hold the reins

06 Tête-à-tête with the ambitious

Leading Zoroastrians share their aspirations for their motherland India

A special report on WZCC by the International Director, Roomi Sarkari

Our YLEP Team: doing the right things at the right time for the right reasons

Dear all, Welcome to the first issue of ‘Gavashni’ a Newsletter for the Zoroastrian community in the Gulf region.

Gavashni Newsletter for the Zoroastrian community in the Gulf region ISSUE

01VOL 01

OCTOBER, 2013

WELCOME NOTE 04 Success Story

Climbing the stairs to success and giving ‘entrepreneurship’ a new meaning

08 Women Focus They came, they saw and they were not deterred.

Two women who raised the bar and made it happen

05 Enterprise Dubai 19th – 21st December 2014 A must visit venture, so ensure you make the time for it.

06 Tête-à-tête with the ambitious

Leading Zoroastrians share their aspirations for their motherland India

10 Regional News

13 WZCC

14 Entrepreneurship

16 Youth Focus

People of our ilk who have come to the gulf and left indelible footprints in the sands

In the corridors of corporate power we meet those of our community who hold the reins

A special report on WZCC by the International Director, Roomi Sarkari

Our YLEP Team: doing the right things at the right time for the right reasons

WELCOME NOTE Dear all, Welcome to the first issue of ‘Gavashni’ a Newsletter for the Zoroastrian community in the Gulf region.

Click here to see the issue

The idea behind this newsletter was simple. To create another thread of togetherness to bind our community, share our wins and losses and get to know each other...

Click here to see the issue

Dear all, Welcome to the first issue of ‘Gavashni’ a Newsletter for the Zoroastrian community in the Gulf region.

The idea behind this newsletter was simple. To create another thread of togetherness to bind our community, share our wins and losses and get to know each other...

The idea behind this newsletter was simple. To create another thread of togetherness to bind our community, share our wins and losses and get to know each other...

This issue 17 18

19

It’s time for Tee We introduce you to Nasha Sarkari, a professional Golfer

Editorial Team

An Inspiring Short Story

Director, Gavashni Meher Bhesania

A story with a moral. Always something to learn from real life experiences. Ask Kairmaine Irani.

Life’s lessons and Inspiration - Food for Thought Random? Coincidence? Predictability?

Who has seen tomorrow?

20

Ask the Doctor Oral health is an important part of ‘feeling good’. Take a bite of good advice from Dr. Ashievanghuie Deboo

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Job Hunting Each of these professional tips is truly essential to succeed in a job search

22

A Zoroastrian Festival - Navroze A festival to celebrate and acknowledge our blessings

23

Art Montage Her brush is more fluent than her pencil.

Shape and tonality is predominant in her art.

Senior Executive, Advertising & Administration Firdaus Irani Our Overseas Contributors Manizeh Mistry - Bahrain Rumi Bhathena - Doha Kaiomarz Mistry - Kuwait Gooloo Mehta - Kuwait Cashmera Bhaya – Muscat Our Regional Contributors Charmaine Taraporvala Dr. Ashievanghuie Deboo Firdaus Irani Hoshedar Cooper Jamsheer Avari Jasmine Tavadia Kairmein Irani Mahrukh Cooper Parinaaz Navdar Roomi Sarkari Urvaksh Tantra Website Administration Yazdi Tantra, On-Lyne Computers Co. Mumbai, India Design Foggeneration.com Text Courtesy, Page 19: google.com Picture Courtesy, Page 05: Sanjay Pradhan Pages 14 & 24: google.com

Disclaimer

24

Spice is the variety of life From the pot to your palate, great recipes anyone can follow

The Publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this newsletter, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are

25

advised to seek specialist advise before acting

Children’s Corner

on information contained in this newsletter

Give the kids a puzzle or two and keep their minds ticking …..

not be appropriate for the readers particular

which is provided for general use and may circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this newsletter or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review.

2 Gavashni

October, 2013

Gavashni

From the Editorial Desk

Newsletter for the Zoroastrian community in the Gulf region ISSUE

01VOL 01

OCTOBER, 2013

Dear Members,

04 Success Story

05 Enterprise Dubai

08

10

Climbing the stairs to success and giving ‘entrepreneurship’ a new meaning

Women Focus They came, they saw and they were not deterred.

Two women who raised the bar and made it happen

19th – 21st December 2014 A must visit venture, so ensure you make the time for it.

Regional News People of our ilk who have come to the gulf and left indelible footprints in the sands

14 Entrepreneurship

In the corridors of corporate power we meet those of our community who hold the reins

06 Tête-à-tête with the ambitious

Leading Zoroastrians share their aspirations for their motherland India

13 WZCC

A special report on WZCC by the International Director, Roomi Sarkari

16 Youth Focus

Our YLEP Team: doing the right things at the right time for the right reasons

Gavashni Newsletter for the Zoroastrian community in the Gulf region ISSUE

01VOL 01

OCTOBER, 2013

WELCOME NOTE 04 Success Story

Climbing the stairs to success and giving ‘entrepreneurship’ a new meaning

08 Women Focus They came, they saw and they were not deterred.

Two women who raised the bar and made it happen

05 Enterprise Dubai 19th – 21st December 2014 A must visit venture, so ensure you make the time for it.

06 Tête-à-tête with the ambitious

Leading Zoroastrians share their aspirations for their motherland India

10 Regional News

13 WZCC

14 Entrepreneurship

16 Youth Focus

People of our ilk who have come to the gulf and left indelible footprints in the sands

In the corridors of corporate power we meet those of our community who hold the reins

A special report on WZCC by the International Director, Roomi Sarkari

Our YLEP Team: doing the right things at the right time for the right reasons

WELCOME NOTE Dear all, Welcome to the first issue of ‘Gavashni’ a Newsletter for the Zoroastrian community in the Gulf region.

Click here to see the issue

The idea behind this newsletter was simple. To create another thread of togetherness to bind our community, share our wins and losses and get to know each other...

Click here to see the issue

Dear all, Welcome to the first issue of ‘Gavashni’ a Newsletter for the Zoroastrian community in the Gulf region.

The idea behind this newsletter was simple. To create another thread of togetherness to bind our community, share our wins and losses and get to know each other...

W w

elcome to the first issue of ‘Gavashni’ a Newsletter for our Zoroastrian community in the Gulf region.

The idea behind this newsletter was simple. To create another thread of togetherness to bind our community, share our wins and losses and get to know each other.

We will keep you updated on what’s going on in our community in the Gulf region and bask in the success stories and happy events that occur in our fold while also discussing matters and issues of general interest, especially in the realms of education, business, science, technology and much more…

We have even catered for the children and the family as a unit, which we believe is of utmost importance.

While most of our Zoroastrian community organizations in the Gulf region are conducting similar events and activities, it makes more sense to join forces and have a common newsletter each year. I think that is a sentiment which will resonate with all.

Let me add, that your role is paramount. Our little writing adventure can only achieve its aim if you encourage us by contributing, reading, commenting and sparking dialogue. That will give us the impetus to try new angles and make the newsletter newsworthy so that you look forward to its arrival.

If you miss an edition, you will be able to catch up by visiting our website www. wzcongress.org/enterprisedubai/. Going forward, archives of our past e-newsletters will be made available on this website for your convenient viewing.

Enjoy the first issue! And enjoy life as you count your blessings!

Sincerely, Meher Bhesania Director, Gavashni

ENTERPRISE DUBAI - 2014 Block your diaries 19th to 21st December, 2014

October, 2013

Gavashni 3

SUCCESS STORY - Porus Guzder Travellin’ Light… and Travellin’ Well

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e took the high way to success. Literally, the road had its hairpin bends and its diversions but, he stuck to the route and followed his dream. Each milestone was a tangible reminder of grit, determination and self belief. Today, Porus Guzder, Managing Director of Incentive Connections Tourism L.L.C and Ahura Transport and Limousine Services has pole position in transit and travel and there are still miles to go…

By: Parinaaz Navdar In 1999, he came to Dubai on vacation. As luck would have it, he got a job in Gulf Dunes as Project Executive and ultimately rose to the position of Operations Manager, following which another window of opportunity opened when he took up a challenging position as the Executive Director of 1001 Events. That was the beginning of his journey as a businessman, and since then he has not looked back. Porus started Ahura Transport, five years back, which provides coach, hire and limousines transfers for small, medium and large groups. His team of experienced and qualified personnel guarantees timely, professional and valuable services.

PORUS GUZDER

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is style is infectious. He bubbles over with enthusiasm and you can see a cascade of new ideas and concepts reflected in his speech. He is one of those very fortunate people who love what they do and cannot get enough of it. Is it any wonder then that he has successfully steered his two companies to greater heights since 2009?

The story he tells us began in 1997, when he was in his 20s. Young Porus - a post graduate in International Tourism and Marketing from Switzerland followed by an MBA in Marketing – was working as a lead agent at World Network Services (British Airways) in Mumbai. “This was back in late 90s; my brother and a lot of my friends were based in Dubai and had their businesses here and they kept inviting me to come over and explore opportunities,” he recounts. But he was too attached to Mumbai and loved his life there.

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October, 2013

Realizing there is a lot of potential in UAE’s tourism and hospitality sector, Porus Guzder started yet another company called Incentive Connections three years ago, which is a destination management company that offers clients enriching experiences and cherished memories in areas of conferencing management, incentive travel, high-end tourism, product launches, gala events, sports and outdoor events, road rallies and much more; Porus Guzder and his team of experts truly love what they do.

He has realized that there is a lot of potential in the business in the coming years in the UAE owing to its reputation as a hub for MICE events. His mantra is to do well in whatever he does and maintains that all his business decisions hinge on sustainable growth – “something you can step on and go forward with while always mitigating the risk,” he explains.

He feels lucky he came to Dubai at the “right time.” His sound family values, boundless dedication and hard work, are the main ingredients to his success in this business. He

tackles each and every area of his business with diligence and finances with great prudence.

Denmark, Scandinavia, Germany, Austria, Amsterdam and Belgium are places he visits frequently for work. He also has an office in Argentina. He is not one to socialize a lot. His day starts early in the morning and he winds down by around 7pm; again, no compromises there.

His advice to the younger generation is simply, “Combine your talent with your passion.

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. Don’t choose your career path on the basis of what is in vogue or what is in trend or what is popular amongst your peers. Instead, spend some time on selfintrospection to realize what work would make you happy. The path you choose now is the path you will tread for many, many years to come.

So ensure that the path you select is one where you will enjoy the journey.” Just like he does…. driving along singing a song of success, vision and an inbuilt GPS for doing the right thing at the right time! So whether you are driving a car, taking a business trip or planning a vacation, always be sure that if it’s through Incentive you will enjoy a leading edge…and be up to speed.

Is it any surprise that WZCCME proudly presented the ‘Outstanding Member of the year Award’ for 2012 to Porus Guzder, at their meeting held on 29th March 2013 at the Hyatt Regency in Dubai, for his outstanding contribution to the Middle East Chapter.

19th - 21st, December, 2014 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Shaikh Zayed Road, Dubai

“Connecting the Leaders of Today with Tomorrow”

Registrations start Nov. 2013

Special Offer (Up to 30th April, 2014) Adults

775/- (US$ 215) (Two days) AED 925/- (US$ 255) (Three days) AED

*** Children 4 - 12 Years 475/- (US$ 130) (Two days) AED 650/- (US$ 180) (Three days) AED

(Includes free entry to all sessions, Breakfasts, Teas, Coffees, lunches, dinners, sightseeing and entertainment programs)

For Hotel Booking Contact: Crowne Plaza, Shaikh Zayed Road, Dubai Hotel Front Desk Tel: +971-4-3311111 Aed.325/- (per day) - Single/Double occupancy (2 Adults + 2 Kids) Aed.780/- (per day) - One Bedroom Apt. (3 Adults + 2 Kids) Aed.1400/- (per day) - Two Bedroom Apt. (4 Adults + 2 Kids) (Registration mandatory before Hotel Booking)

Enterprise Dubai offers an unparalleled platform for exploring business, leisure and pleasure opportunities that Dubai has to offer. The event is open to Zoroastrian Businessmen, Professionals, Youth and families worldwide.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS Grand opening of the event by Royalty ë Event addressed by Heads of Government, Ministers and Industry Leaders ë Identify new trade / investment partners and take away business leads ë Network with policy makers/key government officials and the global diaspora ë Talks by Internationally reputed Speakers in areas of: trade, leadership, communication, innovation, technology, medicine, education, culture and community development ë Start up guidance on new business setup in Dubai/UAE

ë Visits to Free Trade Zones and B2B meetings ë Focus on youth ë Business Contest with Mega Prize: ‘Idea, Innovation and Implementation’ ë Mega Competitions/Prizes: ‘Masters of the Home Kitchen’; ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’ and ‘Cricket Quiz’ ë Gala entertainment shows ë Prestigious Awards ceremony ë Sightseeing tour of Dubai and visits to shopping malls ë Scrumptious breakfast at the Burj Park, Down Town, Dubai ë Fabulous Dhow Cruise and much more...

Contact Details: Website: www.wzcongress.org/enterprisedubai Email: enterprisedubai2014@gmail.com Tel: +971 50 4590258 | +971 50 5158659 +971 50 5505174 Event Organized by: WZCongress, Dubai

Attend the mega event ‘Enterprise Dubai’ and ‘Explore, Engage and Evolve.’

TÊTE-À-TÊTE

Tête-à-tête with the ambitious

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s India celebrates its 67th Independence day, this year, eminent zoroastrians in Dubai, Muscat and Kuwait share their aspirations and dreams of their motherland, India, and express what they hope is the vibrant future of this incredible country.

Honest, upfront yet drenched with expectation their opinions echo the need of the hour.

As a child, I saw January 26th and 15th August as holidays.

Now I see them as days of re-evaluation of what could have been done and all that needs to be done for the nation.

FARHAD IRANI Executive Vice President and Group Head, Retail Banking, Mashreq Bank, Dubai

I am reminded of the words of Robert Kennedy when he said, “Some people see things as they are and ask why?

Others see things as they are not, and ask why not?” The time has come for India to move on from the why and begin to seek answers to why not? A nation where enterprise flourishes in spite of the many challenges we self inflict.

An India which contributes to peace, security, environment and prosperity not only of itself but of the world!

General Manager, Oman Shapoorji Construction Co. LLC, Muscat

6 Gavashni

October, 2013

My great hope is in the youth of India - for progress is made normally not on the shoulders of the old and wise but on the innocence and passion of the young.

If India wants to win respect of the rest of the world, then we must modernize our society and eradicate poverty as poverty is the parent of revolution and crime. The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance

As India celebrates its 67th Independence Day, this year, my aspiration for India is to see India become the world’s largest economy, more prosperous in terms of trade, industry education and health care. An India where every citizen has education ‘roti, kapda and makan.’

FIROZE IRANI

of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. But first we must be true to ourselves and unite in a bid to stamp out corruption, nepotism and invest in the wellbeing of society rather than just oneself. Selflessness and progress go hand in hand.

My dream is to see that each and every village in India becomes self contained with proper education, proper

hygiene, proper medical facilities, proper electrification and has pure drinking water available to them, so that rural people don’t have to move to urban areas.

I look forward to seeing India, my homeland, in full glory in the years ahead!

While I have spent the last 19 years of my life in Oman my heart continues to beat for India. Each time I see the tricolor flying and hear our National Anthem, I have moist eyes and goose bumps.

MINOO SAHER Group CEO, Mustafa Sultan Enterprises, Muscat

environment. Perhaps the fastest way to stop corruption is to stop giving.

I can never thank India enough firstly, for being home to Parsi Zoroastrian community and allowing us to maintain our rich traditions through the years, on our terms, if I may say, and secondly, having given me the opportunity to educate myself and get ready to face the world and finally for the high standards of professional grinding and the rich experience which has held me in good stead.

These are some of the challenges we are facing in modern times, but a great future lies ahead. The population of over a billion people is today India’s biggest strength. The energy manifested by our youth who are powered by tools of social networking is a catalyst for positive and sustainable change. India being a global an internationally connected democracy it is bound to be in the top five. But it cannot afford to keep losing its energies on the negative aspects or allowing itself to be pulled down.

However, in the last few decades, life has changed in India drastically due to the rise of social evils, corruption and terrorism, this trinity being the single most destructive element. I, therefore, believe India needs to undergo sweeping changes through social and administrative reforms aimed at creating a progressive and corruption free

An improved standard of living, infrastructure and inclusive growth are all moving in the right direction. So you can’t stop a good idea whose time has come now. I look forward to being a part of the story – “the India of my dreams”, and I would not mind any positive role that I am called to play in its making.

The evolution of a “new” India has heralded a new prosperity but this has also spawned unfulfilled aspirations, especially amongst the young.

plants, giving women the opportunity to play a meaningful role in villages, adopting family planning incentivisation measures, encouraging farmers to invest in dairy cattle to make milk the new village gold standard, these are initiatives which will reverse the trend of villagers migrating to cities and will draw them back to agriculture. The invisible hand will do more magic. This will create decent housing, contented villagers, enhance monthly per capita income and, interestingly, India will see the birth of a new dynamic moneyed class.

I have my own aspirations for India - leadership driven, eco friendly, free from shackles of corruption, good governance, fast on reforms implementation and slow on bureaucracy.

To my mind, away from the oft spoken sectors of IT, Telecom, Manufacturing, Banking, the wealth of India lies in its villages which comprise the pulse and heartbeat of RUMI SANJANA India. An upliftment of its villages and produce would play Senior Advisor, Nexus Board, a major role in boosting the economy drastically and solve Dubai serious food problems.

Some specific measures are needed to make that experiment work. Proper dam irrigation, planting of trees, using advanced crop cultivation system, installing bio gas fuel

My vision is to see India as an agent of formidable change, a power on the global podium enjoying a vibrant agricultural economy, one that would become an enviable agrarian model for other countries to emulate.

My country-My India My India - my Mother There will never be another My country - my Treasure My India - Divine.

May you grow in strength and prosper May those who terrorize you - suffer I want to see my country Move freely towards its destiny!

Though shadows of corruption and rapes emerge We will fight this terrible scourge The people are now awake They are saying “enough is enough”.

Let there be no mistake For to evil, we will never surrender!

To a new dawn of freedom Peace will reign, till kingdom come!

Where the people, the rich and the poor Will join hands and work together Relying on our united power And throwing out the intruder From the ashes of our Fathers Let my country awake.

GOOLOO MEHTA KZA Editor –in-Chief, Kuwait

October, 2013

Gavashni 7

WOMEN FOCUS Where ‘D’ is for Dedication

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here are no children of a lesser or a greater God. In his eyes they are all the same, innocent, deserving of love and care and the inherent right to make the best of their lives. Anyone who stoops to speak to a child grows taller. Anyone who gives children time, adds stature to his or her character. But a few of us are blessed enough to dedicate our lives to children who have been challenged by fate and who need a little extra attention. That ‘little extra attention’ can and does become a mission and one person who has made it so for herself and done it with great grace and dignity is Gulshan Kavarana, a long time resident of Dubai, and the Founding Member of the Special families support (SFS) Group.

She felt as though she was drowning in self pity and felt she was the only one going through the stages of acceptance: guilt, denial, self pity, anger, hopelessness and finally, the best stage of all acceptances. Thus SFS was born.

SFS started in 1999 with a dozen families in Gulshan’s living room. The motivation behind the group’s initiation was to bring together and uplift children with special needs and most importantly their families.

GULSHAN KAVARANA

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rofessionally, Gulshan Kavarana is an art teacher at Mawaheb, the art studio for adults with special needs in Dubai. The same care and attention has percolated to the younger individuals who might need to be cupped and looked after so that they have a better chance to flourish.

This is not a story of sacrifice for there is no sacrifice in doing what you so passionately believe in, and Gulshan will be the first to say that it is a labour of love, not charity.

It is safe to say, that Gulshan’s life changed drastically when her second daughter Zara was born in 1997. Zara was diagnosed with Dravets Syndrome. When Gulshan found out about her condition she went desperately seeking help and advice from other parents in similar situations, as she was a new resident of Dubai.

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October, 2013

The empowerment of parents, especially the mothers is something that Gulshan believes SFS has been most successful in doing as today, the parents are not afraid or embarrassed to talk about their children and the problems they face with others. This liberation has helped them stand up for themselves and their children and really change the face of the society they live in. SFS just recently celebrated their 13th-year anniversary (9th, December 2012) and it is evident that Gulshan has been a vital part of so many people’s lives and helped make them feel accepted, loved and comfortable. SFS has now grown to over 500 families and has chapters in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Chennai, Jeddah, Malaysia and Mumbai. Gulshan has also helped set up the Ahura Support Group in Mumbai. She is truly spreading the motto of SFS: respect, love and accept (individuals with special needs) far and wide.

Gulshan has won several prestigious awards.

Most recently she won the third annual Petrochem ‘GR8 Women’s Award’, an award that honours the region’s top women for a variety of remarkable endeavours. She was also awarded the ‘Most Inspiring Woman’ Award from Arabian Business who nominated her among the ‘Top 100 Most Powerful Indians in the GCC’ for three consecutive years. Gulshan is also the recipient of the prominent ‘PHASE’ (Princess

Haya Award for Special Education) where she won the ‘Outstanding Family Award’. What’s On Dubai, awarded her the ‘Inspire Award for Guardian of the Year’ and she was featured in Ahlan’s Hot 100 people of the UAE. Not only has Gulshan done her community proud and won the Jimmy Mistry ‘Young Achievers Award’ but she also made her school proud when they awarded her on their 100-year anniversary.

Gulshan believes that one does not need incredible resources to impact another human being – one can and should make a difference by being conscious, by thinking of creative ways to make others feel good about them.

She is grateful for the accolades that have been bestowed upon her and tries to be a blessing in someone’s life, everyday.

Promise you a Rose Garden

SS

ome people have the uncanny knack of changing the dynamics of a gathering by their sheer arrival. Call it charisma, call it presence, charm, grace, a mix of all these but they definitely bring a new dimension to any congregation. Deena Motiwalla is one such person. There is something captivating about her personality and her track record reflects a strong will, a great desire to do good things and pour a little happiness into the lives of others. From the beginning, she knew what she wanted and once she had the opportunity she went against all odds and gave hope to hundreds of children, transforming their lives for a better tomorrow. Blessed with a genuine green thumb, when Deena touches a plant it simply blooms, just like the children she cares for. She is by far one of the region’s leading botanical experts, has an exquisitely beautiful garden and tends to the beds of flowers herself.

in Dusseldorf, Germany to gain some work experience. Thereafter she returned to Mumbai and worked for ten years with the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, the first ever Indoforeign office to be opened in India, overseeing matters relating to social and cultural affairs at the Chamber. It was after this stint that she married Bomi Motiwalla, a well-established businessman.

DEENA MOTIWALLA Picture courtesy - Grace Paras

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he personification of grace and a woman for all seasons her achievements underscore the depth of her work with improving the lot of the needy and adding more than just a touch of green to Mother Nature with whom she has a special bond. Deena Motiwalla has held many eminent positions and wears her distinction lightly and with good cheer. She has been the Co-Chairperson of Children’s Hope Foundation, Founder of Dubai Garden Circle and Chairperson of the Dubai Gardening Group, a curiously delightful mix of interests with a common thread of care and concern running through it.

After completing her college degree in World Affairs at Harwell House, Buckinghamshire and Goethe Institute, Germany she joined D. S. Mulla Consultant’s company in 1959

The young couple then made a move from India and arrived in Dubai in 1970, where they carved for themselves not only a niche in the corporate world but also became synonymous with philanthropy and other charitable causes.

Her social standing received an added affection with several others being inspired by her green thumb and her love for maintaining gardens and flowers and literally spearheading a ‘green’ culture in urban Dubai, a saga that has becoming legendary.

Her reputation in this field spread beyond the boundaries of the gulf. She travelled extensively and spent quality time at the world’s finest gardens in Holland and Scotland and attended the world’s famous flower shows in Dortmund, (Germany), Chelsea, (England) and the Floriade (Holland) the last being a once in ten year celebration of fauna from all over the globe. She is often quoted as saying “Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”

care and tropical orchids and temperate roses flourished even in the sultry weather.

As Chairperson of Dubai Gardening I have arranged several flower, fruit and vegetable shows annually in Dubai and loved every moment of it.”

When the UAE embraced the idea of developing more sustainable landscape she contributed her ideas and techniques to the gardeners at the Dubai Municipality. She has been a judge at several Flower Shows held in Dubai and Bahrain.

In 2000, she became the Co-Chairperson of ‘The Children’s Hope Foundation’ that helps children around the world. Among her more esteemed awards are the Air India Cup; the IAL Plate, and the Al Ain Municipality Plaque; and the International Women’s Excellence Award 2011, Plaque and Crystal Trophy as “Mother of Gardens”.

Deena Motiwalla is indeed one woman who inspires, empowers and motivates. She has cupped her hands around the buds and given the petals new hope so that they can flourish and grow…for that she has earned the name, ‘a beautiful gardner.’

Deena’s bouquet of assets are best expressed by her: “In the 1970’s when I came to Dubai, everywhere you saw, you could only see stretches of barren sand. There wasn’t a single green plant in sight. So I took it up as a challenge and gradually nurtured a beautiful garden of my own. I chose my flowers with

October, 2013

Gavashni 9

REGIONAL NEWS The Gulf Adventure

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he arrival of Zoroastrians in the Gulf region can be traced back to the 1960’s, when the winds of change started sweeping the area.

Although oil was discovered here decades earlier, it was only in the 1960’s that this rare resource started altering the face of these countries forever. Today, there are 1,800 Zoroastrians in this part of the world, and the numbers continue to grow. To those who have not set foot here, it remains a mysterious territory; to those who are already here, it is a land of unlimited opportunities.

In this first issue of our Newsletter, we give you brief geographical and economic background of Gulf countries in which you will be able to catch glimpses of how the Zoroastrians live in the land of their residency and celebrate important Zoroastrian festivals.

Manama, Bahrain

In order to make the most of the good weather before the summer really sets in, the community met on 23rd May, at a public park to enjoy a ‘Gahambar in the Garden.’

The island of Bahrain is the freest economy in the Middle East and North Africa. It has been known for years for its tourism attractions that are a mix of traditions, archaeology and modernity. It may be a tiny island but it is big on what it could offer to tourists. With entertainment, fun and most of all a rich history there is certain authenticity about Bahrain which is unique.

The Zoroastrians in Bahrain number about 85.

The Bahrain Zoroastrian Association (BZA), which holds the distinction of being formally incepted in this region, held its annual general meeting in February last year and unanimously re-elected the same committee for a two year term. The team is ably led by Manijeh Mistry, its honorary president, with Tehmten Sherdiwalla as her deputy, Sarosh Aibara as the general secretary, Vistasp Sopariwalla as the treasurer, Behnaz Sanjana as a committee member and Rayomand Palkhiwala as the internal auditor.

This February, Mistry was privileged to be invited, along with various community leaders and religious heads, to the royal palace to meet the King of Bahrain, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, The Prime Minister, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and The Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. On behalf of the BZA, she thanked the king for the freedom to practise our religion and assured

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Doha, Qatar

him of the community’s support and loyalty towards the ruling family and the government.

A month later, the BZA celebrated the spring festival “Navroze” by gathering at the Ramada Palace Hotel. Members participated in a fun quiz followed by dinner and the customary singing of “Chhaiye Hamey Zarthoshti”. Soon there after, on 25th March, the community met once again at the “Asry Beach” with offerings of flowers, coconuts, saakhar and dar-ni-pori to seek the blessings of Ava Ardavisoor Banoo. In true Zoroastrian style, there was an abundance of the home made as well as imported dar-niporis which were all shared with some piping hot tea and coffee to take away the chill of the cold sea breeze!

In a short period of time, the economic development in Qatar has reinvented its capital Doha into a modern city. Strong purchasing power and growth prospects have helped the oil-rich state, which also has the third largest natural gas reserves, become one of the world’s strongest economies. Qatar continues to promote itself as the Middle East’s international forum for sports – Doha staged the Asian Games in 2006, the Pan-Arab Games in 2011 and will host no less than the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Some 120 Zoroastrians live in Qatar, knitted into an informal group called the ‘Qatar Zoroastrian Community’ (QZC). According to Rumi Bhathena, one of the QZC members, “It’s a good time to come and work here. Great opportunities lie ahead in the booming civil

Kuwait City, Kuwait

construction sector, with mega projects coming up. Expansion is also going on in the existing oil and gas facilities.”

Bhathena and others like Nevil Gulestan, Mehernosh Charna, Porus Mandiwala, Behzad Modi, Ruzbeh Umrigar, Farhad Deboo, Kersas Irani, Sima Irani and Farzad Patel generally work together to stage community functions.

This year’s Navroze fete was successfully held on March 21. The seeds of QZC’s birth were sown when Bhathena and his friends, Bomi Patel, Gulestan and Charna, got together. They enthusiastically organised six functions in the first year itself. “I won’t say that we received an overwhelming response but we were quite happy with the start,” states Bhathena.

Gradually, a small working group was formed and they held more events.

The oil-rich constitutional monarchy of Kuwait is situated in the north-east corner of the Arabian peninsula at the tip of the Gulf. It has a relatively open economy with about seven per cent of the global crude oil reserves. Today, it is a major exporter of petroleum, refined products and fertilisers.

The government is eager to promote the country as a regional trading and tourism hub.

The QZC is now toiling hard to take the response to the next level and get more people to become involved -- or even simply show up at the occasions. “Most of the time, we see a small group. I wish others would join in,” says Bhathena, hoping the optimism of a few would rub off on the many.

Gooloo Mehta, Editor-in-Chief of the Kuwait Zoroastrian Association, says that the Gulf Zoroastrians’ contribution to the country of their residence is no less important than that of the other Asians.

“We may not have a big population but we make our presence felt. We are like a

Muscat, Oman They say Oman fulfils all the wishes of a tourist searching for ‘old Arabia’ – a vast country with picture-perfect hills; friendly people who despite their riches remain highly approachable; a beautiful, old-fashioned capital of white structures; uncrowded beaches that are a rarity today; a port where dhows jostle for space; and an enchantingly slow pace of life which is the envy of its neighbours.

Muscat is the capital of Oman and lies on the Arabian Sea along the Gulf of Oman and is in close proximity to the strategic Straits of Hormuz.

The economy is dominated by trade, petroleum and porting, with the more traditional exports being dates, mother of pearl and fish.

About 250 Zoroastrians live in this picturesque city. Cashmera Bhaya, sociologist, lecturer and one who has contributed immensely to

The Zoroastrian community in Kuwait is the smallest in the region – just 75 members - but makes up for its lack of numerical strength by its robustness.

the welfare of the community in Muscat, says the two main events that bring them together are Jamshedi Navroze and Pateti. This year’s Navroze saw about a hundred members attending the dinner hosted by Firoze and Freny Irani at their sprawling residence. As usual, there was the traditional setting of the Haftshin table. “Considerable effort is put in by the family in decorating it in line with the traditional and spiritual values, which, in a way, reflect the good taste and high image that the family enjoys,’’ says Bhaya.

The Pateti fete usually takes place in a hotel with a contributory dinner, dance, live band and games. Jal and Shermeen Kaikobad, Kaiyomarse and Shenaz Khodaiji, Nevil and Benaifer Bilimoria, Keki and Ashish Dubash pitch in with Bhaya to make such evenings memorable. The evening’s programme is generally part sponsored

by Firoze Irani, Neville Mehta, Dinyar Dastoor, Homiyar Bilimoria and Minoo Saher.

family – close-knit and compatible. While some of our members are entrepreneurs others are professionals.”

She further adds, “The Zoroastrians here celebrate Festivals like Christmas, Eid and Diwali with as much fervour as Pateti and Jamshedi Navroze. The latter is usually a big affair with lots of merry-making and delicious food. In the absence of an agiary, we organise Jashans by inviting Dasturjis from India. They come for 2-3 days and perform Jashans/Ashirwad prayers in Zoroastrian homes. These are solemn occasions, followed by feasting and a bumper lunch in honour of the visiting priest. It is wonderful to be part of such a vibrant community.”

Cashmera Bhaya, Muscat

Zoroastrians enjoying themselves at the residence of Freny and Firoze Irani in Muscat on Navroze

Hearty Congratulation to Russi Patel on winning the Forbes Middle East Award

Dubai, UAE Dubai is one of the most connected cities in the world. Home to over 204 different nationalities, the emirate has always been a favoured meeting point for global leaders, institutions and businesses.

The UAE’s strong economy is characterised by steady growth rates, making it one of the world’s leading global trading nations. With a gross domestic product exceeding $ 360 billion, it is the second largest Arab economy, accounting for 1.3 per cent of the global trade, higher than some larger, more populous states. The UAE is also ranked first in the region and fourth globally in the International Monetary Fund’s Ease of Doing Business Index.

Importantly, it is also one of the safest countries in the world. Today, it is one of the most open economies and one that is also stable, diverse, sustainable and growing.

There are around 1300 Zoroastrians living in the UAE. The Emirates Parsees Working Group (EPWG), which came into existence in 1983, comprises - Aban Patel, Deena Motiwalla, Mahrukh Dadachanji, Dara Rajwadewala, Hoshedar Cooper, Vistasp Contractor and Cyrus Debara.

The working commitee members organised a Jashan ceremony and a Gahambar last year and a wonderful Navroze function on 21st March, this year.

The Jashan ceremony was performed by several young and senior mobed sahebs from the UAE at Dhow Palace hotel. It offered a soulful experience to families who attended the ceremony. The traditional Chasni of Malido and fruits was served after the Jashan This was followed by Bingo and scrumptious food.

The Gahambar was generously sponsored by Freddy and Freny Sidhwa of Seven Seas Services Group. The benevolent couples supports other functions also for the community.

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The Gahambar has been taking place for nearly two decades every December. Around 300-400 Zoroastrians come together to rekindle their community values. “It is heartening to note that youngsters of the community pitch in to volunteer during the Gahambar by serving food to the members on a traditional patra, after a ‘Humbandagi’ is performed, says EPWG’s Cooper.

The Gahambar is also a platform for the EPWG to raise funds for charitable activities during the year. The funds are disbursed to needy individuals, organisations and community institutes. “Most members recognise this and donate liberally,’’ he points out. “Who says Parsis no more give as generously as they used to in the past? Parsi charity is alive and kicking in the UAE!” In the spirit of renewing old ties, making new ones and having a good time, the Navroze function this year was held at the Golf Park at Hyatt Regency. Given the fine weather at Navroze, the open-air ambience and the food seemed magical. About 180 members came together and enjoyed a typical Iranian food fiesta, accompanied by music, dance and merry-making. Raffle prizes, donated by members of the community, were given away, the mega attraction being an air ticket to Mumbai.

“Whilst these functions serve their celebratory purpose, they play a far more important role of keeping the community together. They give the younger generation a chance to keep in touch with their Zarathushti culture and an occasion to mingle with other members,’’ concludes Cooper.

Text courtesy: Manizeh Mistry (Bahrain); Rumi Bhathena (Doha); Gooloo Mehta (Kuwait); Cashmera Bhaya (Muscat) and Hoshedar Cooper (Dubai).

Recognizing the passion and contribution to the advancement of the Arab region, Forbes Middle East revealed its long-awaited list of the Top 100 Indian Leaders in the UAE at an impressive ceremony hosted on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at The Oberoi, Dubai, Business Bay, UAE. These rankings are based on the information collated on some of the most influential Indian business leaders residing or operating the Emirates.

This latest ranking considers courageous individuals who founded their enterprises, influential business owners and top C-level executives who are shaping and driving their companies’ success. Counting among Forbes Middle East’s Indian “founding forces” is a diverse mix of company founders and business owners who continue to set the standard.

Gavashni is pleased to inform members that Russi Patel has been ranked among the Top 100 Indian Leaders of the United Arab Emirates in the Forbes Magazine Middle East.

A vanguard of business and community, an entrepreneur, Chartered Accountant and an author, Russi Patel has built his business, BDO Chartered Accountants and Advisors, in the UAE with his spirit of adventure and his ability to take calculated risks.

A highly regarded member of the community, he has rendered yeoman service to it. He has won many awards, two significant ones being, the BDO medal in 1993 and The Lifetime Achievement Gold Star Award from a prominent NRI Group, in recognition of his Services to Humanity and Contribution to the Economic Development of India and the UAE in 2008.

He is the author of acclaimed publications: Investment and Tax Incentives for Non Resident Indians which has been brought out since 1993 and Strategic Planning for Doing Business in the United Arab Emirates since 2003.

To be included in the Forbes Middle East List is indeed an honor and a personal accomplishment and we share in his happiness and wish him and his family the best in the future while expressing the pride the Zoroastrian community feels over this distinction.

WZCC

The Power of One-ness

WZCC Director Roomi Sarkari

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he concept is simple. You daisy chain your ambitions and goals so that each one helps the other and, thereby, forms a coming together of the entrepreneurial spirit. You promote each other and in doing so help yourself by setting into motion the chain reaction where people help. This is also seen as a collective good for the community and the best part is that it works to generate fellowship, co-operation and a sense of belonging.

Chief Guest Farhad Irani, Mashreq Bank

Firoz Vandrewalla

Zarine Dadachanji

Berges Irani

Porus Guzder receiving the WZCCME Award from Kersy Bhesania, MD, Climate Control LLC. To his left are Roomi Sarkari and Nowshir Engineer

Gulshan Kavarana being felicitated at the WZCC Meeting by Mickey Mehta. Also seen are Roomi Sarkari (left) and Cyrus Debara at the Podium

Roomi Sarkari, Regional Director WZCC, explains what WZCC is all about.

SO WHAT IS THE GENESIS OF WZCC? Our history is a testament to the Zoroastrian business acumen and entrepreneurial successes. In order to rejuvenate this spirit, several Zarathushti Business Conferences were held in North America. These annual conferences culminated in the start up of the ‘Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce.’ At the first business meeting of the Chamber in Houston on December 29, 2000, the business persons from all over the world decided to enlarge the scope of the Chamber to all the regions of the world which led to the renaming of the Chamber as the “World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce”. The organization has been registered in the State of Illinois as not for making profit entity. Today the organization has 22 Chapters worldwide and Mr. Minoo Shroff, is the Global President of WZCC. THE PURPOSE OF WZCC? • To facilitate, encourage and promote the spirit of

entrepreneurship amongst Zarathushtis.

• To promote Zarathushti businesses interests worldwide.

• To enhance cooperation, networking and solidarity amongst

Zarathushti business and professional communities.

• To gather appropriate statistics of Zarathushtis doing

business worldwide.

• To develop a mentoring program • To identify sources of funding for Zarathushti business

ventures.

WZCC BENEFITS AT A GLANCE: • You get membership to an organization that is geographically

present in North America, United Kingdom, Middle

East, Iran, Pakistan, and Far East and is dedicated to

•

•

•

•

•

• •

•

linking the supply and demand for business initiatives, entrepreneurial opportunities and major employment positions You can gain access to members who are Business owners, CEOs CFOs Senior Executives, Middle Management and Operating positions You can network with members in every industry trade and profession providing knowledge experience opportunity resources that are multi dimensional You can get real solutions/advice from Business counsels and business issues You can participate in WZCC Meetings, events, seminars around the world You can nominate yourself for: Outstanding Zarathushti Entrepreneur Award, Outstanding Zarathushti Professional Award and Outstanding Young Zarathushti Professional or Entrepreneur Award Get Z Chamber group membership Receive a copy of SynergyZ, a journal which contains news, reports, articles, life style interviews and success stories of eminent Zoroastrians and focuses on today’s new generation creative careers, info on young Zoroastrians and much more…

Get access to website – www.wzcc.net which offers on line registration, info on forthcoming events and past events, members listing and much more…

The membership of WZCCME is open to all Businessmen and Professionals. The yearly fees are nominal i.e Aed.200/(US$50/-) per family and Aed.100/- (US$20/-) per individual. For more details on functions held by WZCCME, kindly refer the website – www.wzcc.net.

October, 2013

Gavashni 13

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

A Matter of Enterprise

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here is no exact formula for entrepreneurship. It does not come in a can or with a set of directions and a recipe for success. It is just that unique ability to seize the day, grasp the moment and recognise the opportunity as it goes past. Those of us who catch the bus and drive on have these elements in their work ethos and though others may call it luck or being at the right place at the right time, the fact is that entrepreneurs are not born, they are made…by their own capabilities and convictions, their determination and the never say die spirit.

There are around 50 Zoroastrian families who are into businesses of their own in the UAE spread across Trading, Shipping, Construction, Medicine, Tourism, Logistics, Event Management and more. In our first issue, we bring you profiles of a few companies in the UAE:

Bakewell Bakery “Bakewell” – the brainchild of Rustom Sorab Wadia, took birth as a “Hot Bread Shop and Confectionery” on 30th December 1991 on Rolla Road in Bur Dubai. Soon Dubaites heard about the new bakery and confectionery. Memories rolled back to times in Mumbai, where people enjoyed the savories, the rich plum cakes and a variety of breads at the Palmer’s – an Italian Confectionery at the Kemp’s Corner.

The shop became the ‘happening’ place.

Dubaites started frequenting the outlet in

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October, 2013

increasing numbers. Bakewell continues to cater to its customers’ needs such as: fancy cake shapes, varieties of bread, puddings, pastries, puff pastries such as chicken, mutton, mushroom, mini pizzas, Bombay sandwiches, chutney sandwiches, and delicious chicken sandwiches. It is also very famous for its Highfiber brown bread and the popular French Cheese Roll.

Bakewell’s mouth-watering, delectable rich plum cakes are simply irresistible! One needs to simply experience its Vegetarian Cakes – they are simply out of this world! The rich plum cakes are available all year round because of public demand. Be it a party, an Anniversary, a Birthday, a Christening, a Holy Communion, Fancy cake shape, Bakewell is on top of the ladder second to none. It has twice bagged the famous TIME OUT Award as “Dubai’s Best Bakeries 2008 - 2009” & “50 Best Things to Eat in Dubai.”

With four decades of experience in the Bakery and Catering Industry, which includes the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, Rustom Wadia has mentored hundreds of students in the Bombay Catering College, Pune Catering College, SNDT Women’s University and has also served as a Bakery Advisor to a leading Flour Mill in Dubai.

Bakewell still continues to satisfy Dubaites’ palates with delectable savouries and flavors unmatched by others and its clients include the top echelons of Dubai society.

RUSTOM WADIA Managing Director - Bakewell Bakery, P.O.Box 23424, Dubai, UAE Tel: +9714 3519222 Mob: +971 50 4522076

Front

Logos Consultants Integrity. Objectivity. Excellence. In Practice.

Logos Consultants is a Porus Pavri

management consultancy specializing in Risk & Advisory and PO Box: 26192, Dubai,services UAE Mobile: 0558073395, 0505504993 Executive Placements.

Email: porus.pavri@logosconsultants.co Their Risk & Advisory services include, among others, internal audit, internal control review, business valuation, feasibility study, IFRS and Internal Audit training to Finance Departments, etc.

CA, CIA, ICWA, CISA

Partner

The firm is run by two highly experienced professionals from a Big 4 background, both with over 17 years experience in their respective fields which have encompassed diverse industry sectors. The partners strongly believe in practicing the principles of Integrity, Objectivity and Excellence, while providing high quality services at all times to their clients, regardless of size, and under a fee structure that is both affordable and stable.

Visit LinkedIn at ae.linkedin.com/pub/ porus-pavri/4/b73/b7a/ for a full list of their services and geographies where they take up assignments.

Porus Pavri Partner – Logos Consultants, P.O.Box 26192, Dubai, UAE Mob: +97155 8073395/+97150 5504993

Ericson and Richards ME Ericson and Richards is a leading International firm of Ship and Marine Surveyors established in Mumbai, India, in 1878. Headquartered in Mumbai, they have been serving the International Maritime Fraternity for over a hundred years and are now in all the major ports of India and have offices abroad.

Back

With the unwavering belief that if a person Their Overseas office ‘Ericson and Richards SERVICES (M.E)’ was set up by Capt.Audits D.R. Antia in •1993.

Corporate and takes one step, God takes four steps with him, • Internal Equity Valuations Internal Control Reviews he embarked on his entrepreneurial venture, Today the name of•Ericson & Richards (M.E) • M&A Advisory • IFRS Consulting when the financial crisis was at its peak in 2009. is synonymous with integrity and they have • ERP Systems User • Agreed Upon Procedures Requirements Analysis • Internalreputation Audits Thereand were those who cautioned him about earned an international for their Deployment • FS Reviews & Compilations the timing.

But Darius Batliwala is the sort professionalism and their expertise.

Their • Corporate Training • Feasability Studies • Executive Searchof person who thinks the ‘right time’ is up to • Investigations findings are in conformity with the highest • Due Diligence the man not the clock. The logic he used was traditions of ‘Independent Surveying’. They are simple. If the company survived this period of non-exclusive surveyors to many International acute turbulence there would be better times Ship Classification Societies and also represent the International Cargo Gear Bureau, New York, ahead. The ship would sail into calm waters under sun kissed skies. while being Nautical Inspectors to numerous Flag States. For more details please visit their Like every businessman, Darius Batliwala is website: www.enr.ae grateful to his wife Zia who has helped him every step of the way and provided moral and Capt. Darius Antia emotional support to him in his ventures.

Managing Director- Ericson and Richards (ME), P.O.Box 40148, Sharjah, UAE As one knows well, when a new company starts Tel: +9716 5631414 up, not everyone is happy and often regards Mob: +97150 6265307 it as another competitor in the market, ready to crush it at the first available opportunity. To survive this period where larger companies and manufacturers ask for cash down payment, to sell goods with 90 days credit to customers can be a very challenging time for a new start up business. Zen hung in there and forged ahead.

Zen FZE, is located in the Saif Zone in Sharjah. It is in its 5th year of operation and the company rises exponentially. Darius Batliwala, Chairman and CEO of Zen FZE, has a clear philosophy. One day when we all to go up, we will be asked by our Maker, what we did to make a difference on this earth?

His answer is: let’s do something to leave a rich legacy; sow the spirit of as much good as we can and be helpful to others in our lifetime.

And he follows this dictum to the core, not just as a beacon to his own life, but permeates the thought whenever he gets a chance to offer a helping hand, do a post of good and just be there for someone in need.

After years of experience in hard core chemical companies, Darius Batliwala decided to start on his own. Hence Zen FZE was established in 2009 as a chemical distribution company catering to the needs of the paint, plastic, printing inks, construction chemical, resin, water treatment, perfume, cosmetics, printing presses, fibre glass and confectionery industries.

Today Zen, has profound credibility in the market, representing as Agents, Distributors and Resellers, large European multinationals like Thor, CPS Color, OMG Borchers Gmbh, Sapici, Ascotec and Silberline. Though the risks in business are higher, the shocks greater, the challenges more severe and the level of pressures and problems higher; considering the higher satisfaction levels, the independence to do your own things, develop your own products, action your ideas, beliefs and concepts and finally reap the rewards and view the results of your hard work and effort take shape in front of your very eyes, “I commend every young Zoroastrian to take the strong step and venture out on their own and reap the benefits of their efforts”.

For Darius Batliwala there is only one mantra No Pain, No Gain!

Darius Batliwala Chairman and CEO, Zen FZE, P.O.Box 122505, Saif Zone, Sharjah, UAE Tel: +9716 5575030 Mob: +97150 6408195

October, 2013

Gavashni 15

YOUTH FOCUS Opening the Gates for the Youth

EE

nvisioning a vibrant and caring community where the youth play a part towards community bonding is usually a long process but the Youth in Dubai havw done a wonderful job in a short time with stable support from each other and set the standard high for good work.

Urvaksh Tantra, in this article, gives a glowing account of the work done by the Team and hopes more enterprising youth from the Zoroastrian Community will join this initiative.

T

he genesis of the YLEP lies in the 9th World Zoroastrian Congress which took place in 2009 in Dubai. Today the Team, popularly know as, Emirates Zoroastrian Youth (EZY) comprises youth from various vocations who volunteer their personal time and engage/unite youth in various activities. The values that underpin the team’s dedication and commitment are: (1) in service of the people (2) establishing relationships and gaining trust of people with whom they interact (3) helping community causes.

Building on these core values, the Team has had very successful past few years in Dubai and built a track record to prove it.

Reflecting on the journey, the team held a Navroze Dinner, hosted a variety of fun events (bowling and ice skating) which have proven popular with the Zoroastrian youth.

Taking advantage of the beautiful beaches in UAE, the annual Beach Picnics have proved successful and been a perfect way to enjoy the sun and sand with family and friends. One of the most popular events, the Trivia Nite, pushed the brain cells to the limit and everyone who attended had a great time.

But it’s not all about fun and games. The core committee is also keen on keeping alive the legendary Zarathushti spirit of community service and entrepreneurship. An SOS hotline is in place to offer emergency help at any time to the community members in Dubai. The ‘Right Advice service’, helps youth with career opportunities and relocating then to the UAE also exists. People have to simply log in and submit details through the website – www. wzcongress.org/enterprisedubai/.

Another project that has already been launched is ‘Community Cares’ where the team hosts events for the less fortunate. One of the first Community Cares events held was a Painting Competition at Al Noor Centre for Children with Special Needs. This was followed by an

16 Gavashni

October, 2013

Iftar party for the Special Families Support group, with games and dancing for the special needs children. To fund the ‘Community Cares’ initiative, the team collects and sells old and unwanted items at the Dubai Flea Market.

The biggest Community Cares event was the Kidz Day, where children had the opportunity to make new friends, acquire new skills, learn more about our religion in an interactive and entertaining environment, and above all, have fun! This is a vital initiative, as today’s children will carry the Zoroastrian Spirit into the future.

Also the launch of the Gulf Directory, a marathon project, was ably supported by the Team and completed with senior members of the community in Dubai. Copies of the elegant looking directory are available with team members Jasmine Tavadia (Mob: 052 9192636) or Firdaus Irani (Mob: 050 5505174) in Dubai.

Those who wish to avail copies are requested to

contact them.

The most outstanding event was a Fancy Dress competition held recently at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. A total of 38 enteries were received in five categories. The hall reverberated with cheer. While each participant received a participation prize, the first and second prizes were given to winners in all five categories.

What a memorable event it was! The joy on the faces of over 150 members said it all.

It’s time for Tee

Nasha Sarkari

Nasha Sarkari a ‘Driving’ Force

L

egend has it that one sunny day in Scotland (they have them occasionally), a young shepherd boy bored with counting his flock, upturned his wooden crook and tried to strike a pebble into a small hole. He finally ‘putted’ it and jumped with joy at the satisfaction he got from his achievement.

And the game of golf was born. Through the centuries no one was able to figure out what cerebral and physical glee was derived from putting that little white ball into a pin on a blaze of grass.

Technically, of course, the roots of the game are less romantic. Although its origin is unknown, golf is clearly identified with Scotland, where it was played as early as 1457. The British Open Tournament was established in 1860. The game may have been played in America in the 17th century but the first permanent club, at Yonkers, N.Y., was not organized until 1888.

It has been said that more careers are made or

broken on the golf courses of the world than in the boardrooms of corporates.

One person who has taken to the clubs with great fervour and a vat of talent is Nasha Sarkari, a regular on the Pro circuit and a woman who encapsulates the virtues of this formidable game; patience, skill, planning and practice.

Nasha plays at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club which offers a different golfing experience.

The club which opened in January 1993 to world acclaim, has since then been a host to numerous tournaments and events, including the Dubai Desert Classic. This year, the Club set up a thrilling Championship finale for all its members and Nasha won the Ladies division.

This was her 4th time victory since 2010. She had won earlier also in 2008.

Nasha is a professional golfer on the domestic circuit. She has completed her BBA Degree from the Dubai Aviation College this year.

Since an early age, her parents Roomi and

Shirrin took her to the golfing grounds, along with her brother Okhshan who was very much involved in the game. Slowly she picked interest and started playing golf. With lots of formal training Nasha made an impressive showing as an amateur. Today this sport has become an all consuming passion. Nasha commands regional attention for her prodigious golfing ability and her charisma, making her one of the most influential golfer in women’s sports in the Gulf region.

She has already won many events on the UAE circuit and has had top finishes in the Junior and Ladies Order of Merit (OOM) over the years. Her lowest round of golf was a Gross 73 on 18 Holes @ Els Golf Club during one of the Ladies Match-play Championships which usually is held as the end-of-the-year tournament in the region. She plays of her current Handicap of 6.

While Nasha’s ambitions for the future remain simple and straightforward, we wish her the very best in future!

October, 2013

Gavashni 17

LIFE, LESSONS AND INSPIRATION An Inspiring Short Story

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ife’s lessons can be learnt through short stories and many of us have grown reading the legendary collections, each with a twist in the take and a good lesson to be learnt. Kairmaine Irani has revived that art of story-telling and has one inspiring story for us against a delightfully drawn panel of illustrations to get the point across.

The moral of her story is - do not compare yourself with others. Try to do your best as dedication is better than competition.

We are such small waves. The other waves are so big and far too many, and we are so tiny.

We need to keep moving, to keep up or get ahead.

Hey! Don’t be afraid. Fear not from us! This is just your temporary form. We are fundamentally water, and together we make the vast ocean.

Water!!

Oh! I get it!

We are you and you are like us. We are all part of a greater self.

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October, 2013

Sensible Soli Says: We are so busy comparing ourselves with others... and need to realise small is also beautiful. Like Gandhiji said “ In numbers Parsees are beneath contempt but in contribution beyond compare”.

Food For Thought

M M

any of us have not heard about the ‘stochastic probability theory.’ It simply means that the outcome of an event cannot be determined as future events are randomly decided. In simple terms you cannot predict the future nor can you foresee how things will unfold. We might call it coincidence or probability and cause and effect but things happen distinct from one incident to the next…or do they?

The story:

In a remote forest, a pregnant deer is about to give birth to a baby. It finds a remote grass field near by a river and slowly goes there thinking it would be safe. As she moves slowly, she gets labor pain, at the same moment, dark clouds gather around that area and lightning starts a forest fire. Turning left she sees a hunter who is aiming an arrow from a distance. As she tries to move towards right, she spots a hungry lion approaching towards her.

Stochastic theory - Pregnant Deer Scenario CLOUDY SKY

What can the pregnant deer do as she is already under labor pain?

What do you think will happen?

• Will the deer survive?

• Will it give birth to a fawn?

• Will the fawn survive? Or • Will everything be burnt by the forest fire?

That particular moment?

Can the deer go left? – Hunter’s arrow is pointing Can she go right? – Hungry male lion approaching Can she move up? – Forest fire Can she move down? – Fierce river

FOREST FIRE

HUNGRY HUNTER

PREGNANT DEER About to give birth to baby

HUNGRY LION

RIVER picture from google

Answer: She does nothing. She just focuses on giving birth to a new LIFE. The sequence of events that happens at that fraction of a second (moment) are as follows:

• In a spur of MOMENT lightning strikes (already it is cloudy) and blinds the eyes of the Hunter

• At that MOMENT, he releases the arrow missing and zipping past the deer

• At that MOMENT the arrow hits and injures the lion badly

• At that MOMENT, it starts to rain heavily and puts out the forest fire

The next MOMENT, the deer gives birth to a healthy fawn.

In our life, it’s our MOMENT of CHOICE and we all have to deal with such negative thoughts from all sides always. Some thoughts are so powerful they overpower us and make us clueless. Let us not decide anything in a hurry. Anything can happen in a MOMENT in this life.

If you are religious, you can attribute this MOMENT as divine Intervention or a simple ‘don’t know’. But, whatever one may call it, keep that faith and hope within you always!

ASK THE DOCTOR Your Child’s Oral Health Care

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our child’s oral healthcare habits today will have an impact on their health as adults.

Tooth decay remains a serious health problem. It is the most chronic childhood disease that will not resolve without treatment. It is five times more common than asthma says, dr. Ashievanghuie Deboo, BDS, MDS, Specialist Dental Surgeon, Mathur Dental and Orthodontic Clinic.

WHY IS A PREGNANT WOMAN’S DIET VERY IMPORTANT? A balanced diet is critical for the proper development of the unborn child. Teeth begin to form in utero in the 2nd month of pregnancy and harden upto 6th months of pregnancy.

Hence, adequate amounts of vitamins A, C, D, proteins, calcium and phosphorous should be consumed. Inadequate nutrition may result in poorly formed tooth structure making the child more prone to cavities once the teeth have erupted. During pregnancy, a woman’s hormonal levels rise drastically. Women may experience increased pregnancy gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) beginning in the second or third month of pregnancy that increases in severity throughout the eighth month. Along with risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and drug use contribute to mothers having low birth weight babies that are born prematurely evidence suggest a new risk factor – gum or periodontal disease. It is usually safe to receive dental treatment at any time during pregnancy but the ideal period is in the second trimester.

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WHEN DOES ONE NEED TO CLEAN BABY’S MOUTH?

WHAT ARE THE BRUSHING HABITS TO BE FOLLOWED?

Most people think of a newborn as having no teeth but the 20 milk teeth which will erupt during the 1st three years are already present in the baby’s jaw bones. When teeth begin erupting babies have sore, tender gums. Rub your baby’s gums with a clean finger. Wipe your baby’s face often with a cloth to remove the drool and prevent rashes from developing.

Once the molars erupt brush all the teeth gently with a child’s size soft toothbrush and water. Once the child can spit and not swallow the toothpaste begin with a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

• Ensure that the child brushes twice a day in the morning and before bedtime.

• To begin make your child hold a mirror in front of his mouth while you are brushing his teeth. This way he will be able to see what’s going on.

• Children’s toothbrushes have favorite cartoon characters; some are available with blinking lights; while others are battery operated. Let your child chose his favorite toothbrush.

• Let your child learn brushing his teeth with small circles: first, on the cheek and tongue sides, then on the chewing surfaces, and then on the tongue and gums.

• Always help your child to finish brushing his teeth until the child is about 7-8 years old, Laugh and make noises! Allow him to brush the teeth of his favorite toy!

• Motorized tooth brushes can be helpful for removing plaque.

WHAT SHOULD THE BABY BE FED? Do not put the infant or child to sleep with a bottle or sippy cup. Do not allow prolonged feeding of beverages having high sugar content like fruit drinks, soda, juices, milk or formula during day or night. After every feeding wipe the baby’s gums either with a clean, wet, warm gauze pad or soft washcloth. This removes plaque and residual food that causes decay. Do not use bottle to bed. Instead hold, pat, rock the baby to sleep. Read, talk or softly sing the infant to sleep. Hold the infant while feeding, never prop a bottle. As the infant begins to eat more solid foods and drinks from a cup, wean the infant of the bottle at around 9-10 months.

By 12-14 months, most infants can drink from a cup. Serve age appropriate healthy snacks such as fruits, vegetables, whole grain and dairy products.

Parents need to take time out for the child in totality, the more time one gives out from their busy schedules in terms of diet care, oral healthcare and personal time spent will go a long way in the total development of a happy, healthy individual in the future. Regular dental checkups will go a long way in maintaining a healthy lifelong smile.

JOB HUNTING The Job Hunter’s Handy Guide

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ooking for a job? Tired of dispatching your resumes to the world that does not respond; feeling down and out and sensing failure on the horizon? Take heart and revive your flagging spirit. Hunting for the ideal job takes a lot of patience and hard work. No one denies that.

But it will happen and there will be a slot for you. Keep a positive frame of mind. If you are defeated you are only hurting yourself. Here are a few useful tips for you.

By: Jamsheer Avari, M.D, Avari Consulting

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ubai has one of the largest foreign worker populations in the world, with an estimated 80% of its 2 million residents being born outside the city. Even though there has been an economic downturn from the heady days up of 2004 - 2008, there is still an abundance of opportunities for job seekers in most industries, ranging from startup, mom and pop operations to multinational corporations.

Many people still come to Dubai to enjoy the enhanced standard of living associated with working in this cosmopolitan city. A large proportion of expatriates who look for work in Dubai find it before they arrive here. However, and this is not advisable, many come here on 30-90 day visit visas in order to find gainful employment and to better their future. Such a strategy can be tricky and expensive, and all too often, quite frustrating and futile. However, there are certain things job hunters can do in order to improve their odds of success in order to find the right role.

1. Think of ‘finding a job’ as a job in itself – this means that you must set a daily routine which should be diligently followed. Your time is limited so make the best of it.

2. Proofread your CV – spelling mistakes, bad grammar and punctuation are the simplest mistakes to make and can easily put you out of the running for a job. If you cannot have your CV professionally written or proofread, then have a friend or family member give it the once over…a second set of eyes might spot some errors that you may have missed.

3. Create an Online presence – in today’s information age, an online profile on LinkedIn is a necessity. Also, post your CV to job search websites such as Bayt and Monster. It is very important to remember that your online and print CVs match up!

4. Apply for jobs - contact recruitment firms that specialize in your area of expertise. A word of caution, though, when dealing with a recruitment agency; do not pay them any money for their help in finding you a job…

UAE labour law prohibits this specifically!

However, they can charge you for proofreading or rewriting your CV. In addition, if you are interested in working with a particular company, find out if they are hiring and apply directly with them.

6. Be patient and persistent - don’t expect overnight success. Job hunting anywhere in the world is hard work and can be very timeconsuming.

Expect your search to last anywhere from a couple of weeks to 3-6 months, but if you take all the right steps and persevere, you will be richly rewarded.

5. Network – most jobs are not publicized on websites, they are only made known through word of mouth. So get out there and make yourself seen and heard. It won’t be easy, especially if you are new to the city but developing a personal rapport with the major players in your industry or line of work is crucial.

October, 2013

Gavashni 21

A ZOROASTRIAN FESTIVAL Navroze - A Celebration and a thanksgiving

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e it Navroze Celebration in India, Iran or any other part of the world, the festival is celebrated with the same enthusiasm and joy that we have been blessed here on earth with another year and grateful that the one past has been good to us, has protected us and given us refuge from the negative influences, much in the same way as King Jamshed provided protection against the snow-storm and returned to be king again, the day we celebrate as new year. It is incumbent upon us to share these tales of our roots with our children and this narration is ideal for that.

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amshedi Navroze is a festival celebrated with joy by Zoroastrians all over the world. In Iran the festival is celebrated as a secular springtime festival. The words ‘Jamshedi Navroze’ mean ‘New Year’s Day of King Jamshed.’

Shahnameh, the Iranian epic, tells us that Jamshed, the fourth Peshdadian King was forewarned by God, of a terrible snow-storm, which would submerge the entire world. King Jamshed was advised to take a pair of each species and settle in specially made enclosed houses on a mountain as a protection from a great catastrophe that was to befall the world.

King Jamshed did accordingly and established a settlement known as Var-e-Jam-kard, where he was coronated once again as a King on the first day of the month of the year. Jamshedi Navroze is celebrated to commemorate this event.

Perhaps the biggest significance of the Jamshedi Navroze festival is to Nature – the trees, the earth and the sun. Creations in particular and nature in general are sacrosanct to all Zoroastrians. Ancient Iranians were staying very close to Nature. Hence deep knowledge about seasons, which are connected to the sun and planets and the science of astronomy were a natural development.

The day of Jameshedi Navroze, generally coincides with 21st March, the day of Vernal equinox, also known as the Spring equinox. It is the crossing of the sun at the equator from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere when the day and night are of equal duration. On this day the sun once again

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re-enters the first zodiacal house of Aries. Thus the day of Jamshedi Navroze coincides with the vernal equinox, marking the beginning of spring. Jamshedi Navroze thus is a festival of the sun. Nature is related to the movement of the sun and the sun is very important to Zoroastrians.

The festival of Jamshedi Navroze is associated with the spring season. The six Gahambars celebrated by Zoroastrians in Iran and India are basically seasonal festivals. The first Gahambar is Maidhyozarem which literally means “mid spring”. True to its name, it is celebrated in the middle of spring in Iran somewhere towards the end of April. Jamshedi Navroze festival is the harbinger of spring and Maidhyozarem Gahambar its mid-time celebration.

The spring season was the most awaited season in Iran, coming as it did after a bitter and harsh winter experienced in most parts of the northern hemisphere and heralding reinvigorating warm days. Spring symbolizes the renewal of the earth after a barren winter, which is a reminder of “Frashokereti” – the renewal of the whole world which Zarathushtrians believe will happen at the end of time, when all evil will be vanquished and all creation will be renewed and purified.

Thus every Jamshedi Navroze, the spring time is a reminder of this important Zoroastrian teaching. It is a preview of the cosmic renewal of the universe.

The spring season is also a reminder of the victory of good over evil. After the dark and gloomy days of winter symbolizing stagnation

of life, spring ushers in fresh color and joy, symbolizing the activity of life. The earth dawns a new colorful garb in spring. Even animals and birds rejoice at this annual rejuvenation of the earth.

The setting up of the ‘Haft-Shin’ table a day before the Navroze, having seven items starting with the letters ‘shin’ or ‘sin’ of the Persian alphabet is a small show-case of Nature. The items generally put on the table along with the picture of Zarathushtra and Damavand Mountain are: 1. Mirror - symbolizing Sky 2. Apple - symbolizing Earth 3. Candles - symbolizing Fire 4. Golab - rose water symbolizing Water 5. Sabzeh - wheat, or barley sprouts symbolizing Plants 6. Goldfish - symbolizing Animals 7. Painted Eggs - symbolizing Humans and Fertility The United Nations General Assembly in 2010 recognized 21st March as a day of International celebration and called upon the countries in the world to promote peace and goodwill. So Navroze is celebrated throughout the world.

Most importantly, Jamshedi Navroze is a festival of hope, the hope that after every severe winter comes a pleasant spring so no matter whatever the circumstances in your life are; never lose heart, for spring is sure to come!

ART MONTAGE

Creativity is Unconventional

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nly the very fortunate are bestowed with the ability to be creative: to sing, to dance, to write grand verse, to act, to paint. These are the truly gifted ones in our world. For them work is a passion and a calling and here is one such artist.

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azarine, whom many of us know in Dubai, is a self taught visual artist, gifted with a good sense of color and aesthetics. She has been painting ever since she was a child.

A Hair stylist by profession for the last 7 years, painting still remains close to her heart. To her painting is like the air that she breathes in order to live, without which her life would have been quite meaningless. Her growing years were spent in painting during holidays, with much encouragement from her grandmother. Winning many inter-school competitions at the elementary to intermediate levels, later giving it up for a while to focus on other responsibilities life pulled her into, until about 20 years ago, when she restarted painting again.

Having experimented in various mediums such as oil, acrylic, watercolor and pencils, oil and watercolor remain her strongest and favorite mediums. She can spend hours and forget the time

and space she is in. Her mind remains active with imagination, colors, and ideas constantly. Subjects she has mainly worked with are figurative, fantasy, religious portraits, still life and a few landscapes.

In the last three years her imagination has grown to be vivid and she has grown as an artist, by teaching kids and adults of different ages, and expanding her skills to individuals, homes adorning their walls and undertaking commissioned projects. She had painted for the sheer love of it, until 2012 offered her a launch pad for taking her work to a commercial level, and she ended up selling eleven pieces that year which was a good start. The next step is to exhibit her art for which she is looking for the right platform.

Mazarine can be contacted on: + 97155 1020596

October, 2013

Gavashni 23

PARSI CUISINE Spice is the variety of life

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hree words for Almond and Pistachio Curry, Khajoor-ni-Ghari and Sooji Kanji. Excellent, Excellent and Excellent!

Recipes By: Jasmine Tavadia

Almond and Pistachio Curry Serves 8-10

Ingredients: 1¼ kg chicken, skinned and cut into pieces 3 onions, sliced 4-6 potatoes, peeled and quartered 4 green chillies, chopped and seeded 4-5 green chillies, slit (optional) 3 inch piece ginger, ground into a paste 2 pods garlic, ground into a paste Juice of 4 limes 6 cups coconut milk extracted from 2 coconuts ¼ litre full cream milk (optional) Salt to taste 3 tbsp ghee Dry roast and grind to a paste with water: 2 onions 1 tsp turmeric powder 15 dry Goa red chillies 2 tsp cumin seeds 2 tbsp coriander seeds 1 tsp black peppercorns 1 tsp garam masala Dry roast and grind to a paste with water: 250 g almonds 100 g pistachios 100 g charoli 100 g peanuts 100 g gram (roasted) Preparation: Rub chicken with ginger and garlic paste. Place in a pan with two sliced onions, chopped green chillies, salt and enough water to cover. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Leave chicken in stock till required.

In another pan, heat ghee and fry one onion till brown. Add paste of ground spices and fry for 3-4 minutes. Add paste of ground nuts and

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October, 2013

continue frying lightly, adding a little water as and when required. Add chicken, strained stock, coconut milk and milk, and simmer for five minutes.

Add potatoes, green chillies, if used and cook till chicken and potatoes are tender. Add lime juice and salt to taste.

Allow curry to cool and leave for at least 2-3 hours for flavour of spices and nuts to amalgamate.

Reheat before serving with white rice and slices of lime.

Khajoor Ni Ghari (Date-filled pastry) Makes 2

into a sausage. Divide into two pieces.

To make filling, heat butter in a pan and add dates. Fry for a few minutes and add remaining ingredients. Cook gently until it becomes a soft paste. Remove from fire and cool.

Roll out each piece of dough into a circle the size of a half plate. Divide filling into two and spread onto the centre of each circle. Pull up dough on all sides, to completely cover filling, dampen edges so that they do not open out and shape into a round cake on a floured board.

Heat tava or lohri and put a little butter and oil on it. Gently fry gharis till crisp and light brown on both sides.

Cut into wedges and serve warm or cold.

Sooji Kanji Serves 1

Ingredients: Pastry: 2¼ cups flour 2¼ cups fine rice flour 250 g butter 2 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt 1 tbsp each of butter and oil for shallow frying Filling: 500 g dates, pitted and minced 3 tbsp milk 2-3 tbps butter 1 tbsp rosewater A pinch of salt Preparation: To make pastry, sift flours, baking powder and salt together. Beat half the butter till soft. Add flour and mix to a soft dough. Roll into a large circle. Spread remaining butter over circle and sprinkle a little extra flour over it. Roll dough

Ingredients: 1 cup milk 1 tbsp fine semolina 1 tbsp butter ¼ cup water ¼ tsp powdered nutmeg and cardamom Sugar to taste Preparation: Melt butter and sauté semolina for one minute.

Add quarter cup water and bring to boil, stirring continuously. Add milk, continue stirring and bring to boil again. Remove from fire. Add sugar, nutmeg and cardamoms. Serve hot.

CHILDREN’S CORNER

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Test your knowledge|Puzzle for Juniors

o, guys and girls, how smart are you? They say today’s kids are the smartest ever generation so let’s see how well you know the tenets of our religion? Here is a puzzle on the 7 Amesha Spentas (Ameshaspands) who are Ahura Mazda’s divine task force. They not only protect the creations of Mazda but also help you lead a good life when you use their attributes in all that you do. It does not matter if you do not know all the answers. Ask the adults because in the end it is learning that counts.

By: Mahrukh Cooper

1

2

4

3

5

6

Across 6. Guides us to be truthful, orderly and happy and looks after Fire 7. Looks after cattle/animals Helps us use our Good Mind Down 1. Helps us to be devoted to the earth 2. Looks after mankind and is the Good Spirit of Mazda 3. Immortality - Looks after plants 4. Perfection - Looks after the waters 5. Looks after the sky - Gives us strength

7

Pick your Answers from the following: VOHU MANAH

KHSHATHRA VAIRYA

ASHA VAHISHTA

SPENTA ARMAITI

HAURVETAT

AMERETAT

SPENTA MAINYU

October, 2013

Gavashni 25

CHILDREN’S CORNER Word Search Puzzle

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his is a smart word search puzzle developed for you. Can you spot the hidden words on ‘Zoroastrianism’? Don’t give up, that’s not our style.

By: Firdaus Irani

S A N A Y A Q T G Z J H C G P F M I F 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

Q D G T C V E D J Z M A S A D L U P R

O X A P A H L A V I U V O H X K K K A

Z Z E X U R R A K L B O L A P E T D V

H A B D T L N Z F I H V A M C I A P A

I M O N A J A T Y Y X I R B P D D E S

F B H W F N E X Z J F Q D A A P C W H

P V X R K O A N Y A X R N R K F M N I

E E E F H L V K M S Q K A L S P T V F

R S F Z O T R H Y H J U Y V H H S Z R

S X I R R D P O C A D S X G A T H A S

I A R D D P Z R M N G H I D H S Q N U

A V E S T A G D Y D O T J A N U W O D

T Z T N D P H A T V E I R R A V X I R

H Z E U S V W D G E D X H W M P Z V E

A D A R A F B S T J I E T Y E U Y J H

D J P V A S N A V R O Z E K H X H M P

E W Y Q L I M A C K Q C R J U T C T W

A V A N G R A L O M O B E D S T U X E

The 9th Roj of the month as per our Shahenshahi calendar This Roj also means “Water” The sacred book of Zoroastrians Of the six main purifying agents in Zoroastrianism, this agent is by far the most potent and revered.

From the 101 auspicious names of Dadar Ahura Mazda this name means ‘one who brings binding friendship’ The guardian spirit of Zoroastrians Also known as the feast of obligations Hymns of Zarathushtra Wife of Zarathushtra A worship ceremony held to invoke the blessings of Lord Ahura Mazda Zarathushtra’s Birthday A sacred chord wound three times around the waist by Zoroastrians.

Also called ‘Khushali na geet and garba’ or Zoroastrian songs 10 days period dedicated to remembrance of departed souls A festival which falls on Vernal equinox and is celebrated worldwide A script adopted to render various middle Iranian languages Zarathushtis originated from this land Answers to the Puzzle ….

Ode by Firdausi A special sacred shirt made of nine seams worn by Zoroastrians Adar, Avan, Avesta, Fire, Sanaya, Fravashi, A Zoroastrian Priest Gahambar, Gathas, Havovi, Jashan, Khordadsaal, Kushti, Monajat, Muktad, Navroz, Pahlavi, Persia, Shahnameh, Sudreh, Mobed.

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October, 2013

NEWS UPDATE

Members’ Corner By: Charmaine Taraporvala

Welcome To Our World

Congratulations to the proud Parents and Grandparents in Dubai!

Shenaya, born on 8th May 2012 to Navaz and Ariz Master Zal, born on 29th May 2012 to Khushnawaz and Nauzad Contractor Freya, born on 3rd July 2012 to Freny and Nasha Tavadia Darwish, born on 26th July 2012 to Delnaaz and Daraius Driver Tiaraa, born on 23rd August 2012 to Nina and Zerses Dubash Deliza, born on 20th October 2012 to Farnaza and Sheriyar Unwalla Jenaiya, born on 16th December 2012 to Nazneen and Dale Khambatta Jenessa, born on 26th September 2012 to Kashmira and Mehernosh Kasad

Navjot Mubarak

Hearty congratulations to the following Navjotees!

Tiyaan Debara Anaissa Irani Kaizeen Baria Delreen Virji Iyaanah Pardiwalla Jihan Mullafiroz

Navjote Date: 22nd December 2012.

Navjote Date: 26th December 2012.

Navjote Date: 26th December 2012.

Navjote Date: 16th December 2012.

Navjote Date: 30th December 2012.

Navjote Date: 19th April 2013.

Wedding Bells

Congratulations to the Newlyweds!

Jerastine Jilla & Mozard Antia (19th January, 2012).

Natasha Taraporvala & Jamsheer Avari (29th March, 2012).

Bianca Saklatwala & Neville Bharucha (27th November, 2012).

Dilnar Sethna & Hanoz Patel (2nd January, 2013).

Feroza Doctor & Eric Masalawala ( 25th January, 2013)

October, 2013

Gavashni 27

OBITUARIES|TRIBUTE

We Remember By: Charmaine Taraporvala

Jehangirji Tantra, (91) beloved husband of Khorshedbanoo and father of Percy, Maharukh & Faranak, passed away on 9th August 2012.

Adi Bhabha, (62) beloved husband of Armaity, passed away on 3rd December 2012.

Minoo Unwalla, (55) beloved husband of Gulshan and father of Delnaz and Vahishta, passed away on 22nd January 2013.

Minoo will be fondly remembered for his graciousness, his generosity, warmth and love for those around him. A professional to the core he still found time to espouse good causes and was passionate about helping the poor and the needy. He not only gave generously of his time and money, but inspired other wealthy persons and trusts in our community to contribute towards charitable causes. The most admirable thing was the endless trips he made from Al Ain to Dubai to collect whatever amount our community members gave towards charity, be it on weekly, monthly or yearly basis. He kept proper records and was always transparent. Affectionately called as ‘Minoobhai’ by families in the villages of Gujarat, Maharashtra and beyond, his presence brought a smile on the faces of the deserving families when he disbursed funds to enable them to buy their monthly ration or meet their children’s education or medical expense. He also used to disburse funds through his faithful network of friends who helped him in this task in India.

There are no words to express how sorry the Zoroastrian community in the UAE is with the passing away of Minoo so unexpectedly.

However, as they say, the one who is adored the most by God is the one who achieves eternal life. While the community will miss Minoo and cherish the happy memories they all had with him, they will also miss Gulshan, Delnaz and Vahishta, the three roses of Minoo, who have now returned to Mumbai.

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October, 2013